Welcome from Missi, Avian Ambassador at Wild Bird Rescue, Inc.

I came to Wild Bird Rescue in the summer of 2009. Some woman found me on the ground and picked me up. Good thing she knew what to do. She took me to Wild Bird Rescue. At the door, a nice lady named Lila, picked me up and took me into a room called the infirmary. After a complete exam, Lila put me in this large box called a carrier. I stayed there for a few weeks while everyone decided what to do with me. Because I had completely lost my left eye, I would not do well if released back into the wild. The Migratory Bird Act of 1918 says I have to be releasable or be euthanized. Lucky for me Wild Bird Rescue decided to keep me around as their first education bird. I like to be called their Avian Ambassador...I think that sounds more important. Don't you? I will be going out to schools in the fall to help with presentations. I wonder if I get to use PowerPoint? I hope you enjoy keeping up with my trials and tribulations while I am learning how to work on the glove.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

October 26, 2010

I smelled something really bad at the rescue center the other day.  I asked Lila what was going on.  She explained we had a turkey vulture come in which couldn’t fly.  She proceeded to fill me in on the turkey vulture’s natural history. Vultures are best known for their practice of feeding on dead animal carcasses.  So that’s what I smelled!  The turkey vulture is one of North America's largest birds of prey. It reaches a length of 32 inches with a wing span of 6 feet. The turkey vulture has few natural predators.  Its primary form of defense is vomiting. They simply cough up a lump of semi-digested meat.  This foul smelling substance deters most creatures.  I’ll say, it sure deterred me…I wouldn’t come within a hundreds yards of that smelly bird!  The turkey vulture often directs its urine right onto its legs.  In the summertime, wetting the legs cools the vulture, as the urine evaporates.  Okay…OKAY!  I’ve heard enough…too much information!  Phee Phew!
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